Ravens notes: Ravens offensive line takes a step backward

Flacco sacked four times, a season high; Cribbs knocked out of game by Ellerbe

Joe Flacco is hit by D'Qwell Jackson in the second quarter. (Lloyd Fox, Baltimore Sun )

September 28, 2012|By Aaron Wilson, The Baltimore Sun

The Ravens' offensive line experienced a rough night, a bout of regression that often left quarterback Joe Flacco lying on the ground.

After an encouraging game against the New England Patriots where Flacco wasn't sacked and rarely hit, he sustained several big hits as the offensive line regularly broke down Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns.

Flacco was sacked a season-high four times and hit six times by the fourth quarter.

During the first half, Flacco was sacked once by quick defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin when left guard Ramon Harewood appeared confused and failed to pick up an inside stunt.

Rookie right tackle Kelechi Osemele was beaten by defensive end Jabaal Sheard for another sack as he was unable to stop Sheard's bull rush.

"They basically played to their strengths. It was all correctable. It wasn't anything scheme-wise. I know personally I didn't play as well as I wanted to. I had my head in there one time where I gave up a sack. It's nothing that scheme-wise or assignment-wise can't be fixed. It's just technique."

Left offensive tackle Michael Oher entered the game with no penalties, reversing his usual trend of being prone to false starts.

He was flagged for one false start Thursday and two holding penalties.

"It's part of the game," said Oher, who got angry in the fourth quarter at an official and had to be restrained by fullback Vonta Leach after a holding penalty nullified running back Ray Rice's 21-yard run. "It's how it goes. Evidently, it was a good call. The refs know what they're doing, they know what's going on."

In addition, veteran center Matt Birk was vulnerable to penetration up the middle.

In the second half, the Ravens gave blitzing safety Usama Young a clear path to the quarterback.

Before Thursday, Flacco had only been sacked five times through three games.

"It's a hard game, it's hard to win," Birk said. "It's my fourth year here and it's always a battle when we play those guys. I think they're a good football team. I certainly think they're a good defense. I'm just happy that we got the win. We played good enough to win. There's always things to work on.

"As a lineman, part of your makeup is you don't remember your good plays. You only remember your bad plays. That's what makes you a good player, a good offensive lineman and a good offensive line. At the end of the day, we put up enough points to win. Their whole defense is good. You turn on the tape and they play hard, they play tough, they're very well-coached. We knew were in for a fight."

Cribbs leaves the game

Cleveland Browns wide receiver and return specialist JoshCribbs left the game in the first quarter with a head injury after absorbing a devastating hit from Ravens inside linebacker DannellEllerbe.

After long snapper MorganCox made contact with Cribbs during a punt return, Ellerbe's right shoulder crashed into Cribbs' helmet and sent it flying. Losing his helmet and possession of the football, Cribbs landed awkwardly on the back of his head.

While lying motionless on the turf, Cribbs got an inadvertent cleat to the face from running back AnthonyAllen as he pursued the fumble that was recovered by Ravens inside linebacker JameelMcClain.

Cribbs was down for roughly four minutes and was attended to by trainers, who tested him for signs of a concussion.

Cribbs got up without assistance and headed to the locker room for further examination, but he did not return.

Ellerbe was visibly upset and concerned about Cribbs.

"I didn't know, I just thought I got a good shot on him," Ellerbe said. "You're not trying to hurt anybody or knock anybody out like that. I like him as a player.

"I just hope he's all right. I said a prayer for him. He came to. It's part of the game. I can't go out there and easy up, especially against a guy like that. You don't try to intentionally try to hurt anybody. I turned around and I thought he just fumbled the ball."

The injury took away one of the Browns' most dynamic threats on special teams.

Cribbs returned a punt a career-long 84 yards for a touchdown against the Ravens last December and had a 92-yard kickoff return against them in November 2008.

Cribbs set a career high with 306 combined return yards at Baltimore on Nov. 18, 2007.

C. Williams starts

The Ravens are remaining patient with struggling cornerback CaryWilliams. Picked apart by New England Patriots quarterback TomBrady throughout the Ravens' 31-30 win Sunday night, Williams seemed to settle down against the Browns.

However, Cleveland was playing without one of its top wide receivers, MohamedMassaquoi, who has a hamstring injury.

Flacco's streak ends

When quarterback JoeFlacco threw his third interception of the season by forcing a pass into heavy coverage in the end zone, it broke a personal streak in the red zone.

The interception was Flacco's first in 125 throws inside opponents' 20-yard line.

The last time Flacco was intercepted in the red zone was a Dec. 7, 2009, loss to the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field.